I would not change a convenient routing for an inconvenient routing, not would I purchase C+ solely to sit closer to the front). While you may wait a bit for your gate-checked bags, the -700 offloads in about 1/3 the time of a typical mainline aircraft with 3-3 seating. This not only due to having 4 vs 6 passengers per row, but because passengers are not prying steamer trunks from the overhead.

Unless your connection was too tight to be sensible in the first place, I would leave things exactly as they are, the only exception being that I would have a packable small gym bag to carry on valuables, medications and the like.